The Huntsville Center for Technology, pictured, is being considered for closure. If closed, the 17 programs at the tech center would be relocated to the city's high schools. (The Huntsville Times)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Dr. Casey Wardynski on Thursday morning gave the Huntsville school board and City Council the first glimpse of how he would scatter the Huntsville Center for Technology's programs among the high schools.

The potential closure of the technology center has been a source of division in the city since the superintendent announced his intentions in October. Wardynski, during a breakfast between the council and the board, said technical education needs to be offered in neighborhood schools to attract more children.

"It's no longer something that's apart," Wardynski said.

Though automotive courses could stay at the technology center, the majority of the career programs would be moved to Grissom, Huntsville and Lee high schools, which are the largest of the city high schools.

Grissom would have an emergency medical technician program, and courses in cybersecurity and biomechanical systems engineering. The school already has some courses in cybersecurity and engineering, and the classes moved from the tech center will supplement those, said Aaron King, Wardynski's director of transition.

Huntsville High would have computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, precision machining, welding, HVAC training and the building trades. If the automotive program is moved, it would be moved to Huntsville High.

The new Lee building, which will also house New Century Technology High, would offer the largest number of programs, including robotics, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, game technology, app design, certified nursing and licensed practical nursing, and music production and digital media.

Among the smaller high schools, Butler High would get an EMT course and a culinary arts program. The central office is also being moved to Butler.

Wardynski said placing culinary arts at Butler would give the district a chance to highlight that program when students prepare food for functions at the central office.

Huntsville High would also serve as a second location for the culinary arts program.

Johnson High would get commercial driver's license and licensed practical nursing programs, and legal coursework, such as court reporting and forensics. The legal courses would be implemented alongside the law academy that Johnson already has in place, King said.

Columbia High School would have health sciences and aviation mechanics programs.

Wardynski also plans to move the school district's Bob Wallace Avenue annex, which houses offices related to areas including maintenance and security, to the tech center building. That would allow the system to expand Huntsville High School.